The win guarantees the Bears of finishing in a tie for third place in the Pac-10 and has them looking to a bowl bid.

"They weren't going to be denied," he said.

Tedford also said it was a just reward for a team that was bowl eligible last year but subject to NCAA sanctions that followed an investigation into a case of academic fraud and lax institutional control of benefits players received -- all occurring under then-coach Tom Holmoe.

"Last year we deserved one (a bowl) and they took it away from us for issues in the past," Tedford said.

Blown call: Tyler Fredrickson missed two field goals and a third was blocked after a bad snap.

However, the first, a 30-yard attempt in the second quarter, may have been a blown call by the officials.

TV replays seemed to show that the ball was high but inside the left upright.

"It looked good to me," Fredrickson said. "But the referees shouldn't have had to make a close call. I should have split the uprights."

Receiver record: Geoff McArthur became the first player in Cal history to have seven games with 100 or more receiving yards.